Freedomship Censorship Committee

Shifting the focus back home for a second, one current story that hasn't gotten nearly enough attention is the FCC crackdown on Howard Stern. This is an amazing abuse of government power that directly contradicts the first amendment rights. Using Janet Jackson's super bowl costume malfunction as an excuse, congress passed the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act - n essence it gives the FCC freedomship to censor anyone. Their first target? Howard Stern, whose anti-Bush commentaries were somehow deemed "offensive" material. This article notes Bush's direct link to the FCC (which is now coincidentally headed by the same man who bought the Texas Rangers from Bushy).

To me, the most shocking thing of all is that no other radio personalities, regardless of political affiliation, are standing up for Stern's First Amendment rights. Take Rush Limbaugh, for example, whose show is just as offensive as Stern's to the mass public, yet is ignored by the FCC witch-hunt because he is pro-Bush. What if the tables were turned, and Limbaugh was being forced off-air by a Democratic government? The stakes for all on-air celebrities and freedom of speech is at stake here, yet none among the right wing media has the balls to speak out against something they must see as censorship. Here's an article from another victim, a banned NY Times politcal cartoonist who empathizes with Stern's plight. It's important for everyone, Republican or Democrat, to remember that for every debate, this country's first amendment provides freedom of speech, whether you agree or not. Voltaire said it perfectly: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." The FCC is a bigger threat to the American way of life than 50 - er, 26 tons of Mustard gas in a turkey farm.